Hanging type therapeutic device having adjustable handle height



March 4, 1969 M. o.'rr-:EroR 3,430,953

HANGING TYPE THERAPEUTIC DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE HANDLE HEIGHT Filed July l, 1965 I Sheet of 2 Lene-Le March 4, 1969 E THERAPEUTIC DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE HANDLE HEIGHT HANGING TYP Filed July l, 1965 United States Patent O HANGING TYPE THEIRAPEUTIC DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE HANDLE HEIGHT Macy 0. rIeetor, 24 Orpheum Ave., Metairie, La. 76095 Filed .Iuly 1, 1965, Ser. No. 468,822 US. Cl. 272-62 16 Claims Int. Cl. H63b 7 02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A therapeutic device for mounting on the upper horizontal edge of a door and having a horizontally extending, adjustable height handle permitting a user to hang therefrom or perform Various types of exercises.

This invention relates to a therapeutic device for treating disorders of the back and more particularly to a therapeutic device of the foregoing character that 1s adapted to be mounted on a door.

Orthopedists, osteopaths and chiropractors have long been aware that one of the causes of simple backache is due to compression or pinching of the nerves in the spine. The discomfort caused by such compression is sometimes referred to as executive back. To alleviate this condition, various types of remedial devices have been advanced, which are effective to place the spine of a user under tension. However, many of these devices are objectionable from the standpoint that they are either expensive, complicated in construction and use, or difficult to install.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a novel therapeutic device which overcomes all of the foregoing objections.

Another object is to provide a novel therapeutic device of the foregoing character which is adapted to be mounted on the upper horizontal edge of a door.

A further object is to provide a novel exercise device of the foregoing character which may be readily mounted on and demounted from a door and which Will not mar or otherwise damage the door.

Still another object is to provide a novel therapeutic device of the foregoing character which may be mounted on doors of different thicknesses.

A still further object is to provide a novel therapeutic device of the character described which includes a vertically adjustable handle permitting use of the device by persons of different heights.

A more particular object is to provide a novel therapeutic device which may be used to treat disorders of the back, or as an exercise device, or both.

Still another object is to provide a novel therapeutic device of the character described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a therapeutic device embodying the features of the present invention and showing the device as it would appear when in use and mounted on a door;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and front elevational views of the device shown in FIG. l

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another therapeutic device incorporating the features of the present invention and comprising a second embodiment thereof;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side and front elevational views, respectively, of another therapeutic device incorporating the Patented Mar. 4, 1969 ICC features of the present invention and comprising a third embodiment thereof;

FIGS. 7 is a front view of another therapeutic device incorporating the features of the present invention and comprising a fourth embodiment thereof;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and l0 are front and rear elevational views, respectively, of another therapeutic device incorporating the features of the present invention and comprising a fifth embodiment thereof;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view; and

FIG. l2 is a side elevational View of the device showing the relationship of the parts thereof in full and dotted lines when mounted on doors of different thickness.

In FIGS. l, 2 and 3, a therapeutic device 1i) embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated. The device 10 is adapted to be mounted in anelevated position on a door and preferably on the upper horizontal edge, indicated at 11, of a door 12 which, in the present instance, is hinged along its left vertical side edge 13 as viewed in FIG. l.

The device 19 thus preferably comprises support means in the form of a support member or bracket 16 which is adapted to be mounted on the upper horizontal edge 11 of the door 12 with portions of the bracket engaging the front and rear sides, indicated at 18 and 19, respectively, of the door 12 when the device 1t? is in use. To this end, the bracket 16, which is preferably made of wood, includes a mounting portion 21 and an elongated, vertically extending support portion 22. The mounting portion 21 is preferably disposed intermediate the length of the support portion 22 and includes a horizontally extending portion 23 adapted to extend over and engage the upper horizontal edge 11 of the door 12 and a vertically extending, depending or hook portion 24 which is carried at the outer or right end of the horizontally extending portion 23, as viewed in FIG. 2, and which is adapted to engage the rear side 19 of the door 12. The inner vertical side, indicated at 26, of the depending portion 24 is transversely spaced from the inner or left vertical side, indicated at 27 in FIG. 2, of the support portion 22 by an amount sulicient to accommodate different thickness doors, the door 12 being of average width.

In order to permit a user to hang from the device 10, handle means is provided. Such handle means, preferably comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of vertically spaced openings in the support portion 22 'and an elongated bar 30 insertable in a selected one of the openings. In the present instance, lfour vertically spaced openings are provided in the support portion 22 and indicated at 31-34, inclusive, in FIG. 2 and 3. The openings 31-34 are equidistantly spaced 'along the length of the support portion 22, and because the undersurface, indicated at 36, of the horizontally extending portion 23 is disposed substantially midway of the length of the support portion 22, at least one of the openings will be disposed above the level of the upper horizontal edge 11 of the door when the device `1t) is mounted thereon. As shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, both of the upper openings 33 and 34 are disposed above the upper horizontal edge 11 of the door. Such construction permits tall 'as well as short men to hang substantially full length from the device '10, merely -by inserting the bar Sii in an appropriate opening in the support portion 22.

In order to prevent damage to or m'arring of the door 12 When the device l@ is mounted thereon, cushioning material may be provided on the parts of the support member or bracket 16 which engage lthe door. Thus, a strip of rubber 37, or other suitable material, may be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner vertical surface 25 of the depending portion 24 and horizontal undersurface 36 of the horizontally extending portion 23. An

a additional strip of rubber 38 may be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner vertical side 27 of the support portion 22 adjacent the lower end thereof.

In operation, after the device 1t) is mounted on the door 12, and the bar 3C inserted and centered in an appropriate one of the openings 2114-4 such that the user may hang substantially full length, the device is ready for use. Thereafter, the user grasps the projecting or handle portions of the bar 3) and hangs therefrom. While so hanging, the spine is placed under tension and consequently backache or discomfort due to the compression of the nerves in the spine is alleviated. An additional benefit is realized while hanging from the device 10 in that the muscles of the arms Iand back are stretched. If so inclined, the user may perform certain types of gymnastic exercises while hanging from the device 10, for example, chinning.

In FIG. 4, another therapeutic device i0 embodying the features of the present invention, is illustrated. The device is similar in construction to the device 10, and

therefore like reference numerals have been used to identify the parts of device 40 which are identical with those of the device 10.

The device 40 is adapted to be mounted in an elevated position on the door 12 and thus comprises support means in the form of a pair of laterally spaced support members or brackets, in the present instance, a pair of the support members or brackets 16 of the device 10. The brackets 16 are mounted on the door 12 so that the support portions 22 thereof are both on the same side of the door, such as the front side 18, and with the respective pairs of openings 31-34 thereof in horizontal alignment.

An elongated bar, Stich as the bar 30, may thus be inserted in any one of the horizontally aligned pairs of openings 31-34 in the brackets 16 as will permit the user to hang substantially full length therefrom. Preferably, the center of the bar is equidistantly spaced from each bracket 16.

No particular spacing is contemplated between the brackets 16 of the device 40. However, the farther apart the brackets are spaced, the more stable the device 40 will be. When the brackets 16 are comparatively widely spaced so that the bar 30 is supported, for example, closely adjacent its ends 41 (only one end of the bar being shown in FIG. 4), the user would, of course, grasp the bar 30 between the support members 16.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, another therapeutic device Si) embodying the features of the present invention, is illustrated. The device is also adapted to be mounted in an elevated position on a door, such as the door 12, and thus preferably comprises support means in the form of a vertically extending angle support member or bracket 52 having perpendicular flange sections 53 and 54. When mounted on the door 12, the ange section 53 of the bracket 52 is preferably substantially parallel to one side, such as the front side 18 of the .door 12, with the ange section 54 or support portion extending transversely away from the section 53 perpendicular to the door 12. The bracket 52 is preferably of metal, such as aluminum alloy.

The bracket 52 includes a mounting portion, indicated generally at S6, that is adapted to engage the upper horizontal edge 11 and one side, such as the rear side 19 of the door 12, and a support portion that is adapted to engage the other or front side 18 of the door 12 when the device 50 is mounted thereon. The mounting portion 56 preferably comprises a partially severed portion of the flange section 53, which is bent or otherwise formed to provide a horizontally extending portion 57 that extends transversely away from the bracket 52 and a vertically extending or hook portion 58 which depends from the outer or right end of the horizontally extending portion 57 as viewed in FIG. 5. The length of the horizontally extending portion 57 is such that the vertically depending portion 58 is transversely spaced from the flange section 53 and a coplanar unsevered portion 62 thereof, adjacent the lower end of the section, by an amount suilicient to accommodate different thickness doors.

The device 50 also includes handle means to be grasped by a user. Such handle means, in the present instance, preferably comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of horizontally arranged, vertically spaced tubular members mounted in openings 63 in the llange section 54 or support portion of the bracket 52 and an elongated bar insertable in the tubular members. In the present instance, four vertically spaced tubular members are provided and indicated at 66-69, inclusive, in FIGS. 5 and 6. The tubular members 6669, inclusive, preferably are rigidly secured in the openings 63, as by welding or pressfitting, so as to resist tilting or rocking if the weight of the user is unequally applied to the bar 70.

Cushioning material may be provided on the parts of the device 50 which contact the door 12 in order to minimize marring and to prevent the device from slipping when in use. Thus, a strip of rubber 72 or similar material may be cemented or otherwise secured to the under and inner surfaces of the portions 57 and 58, respectively, of the partially severed 'portion 56, and another strip of rubber 73 may be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the unsevered lower portion 62 of the flange section 53. The operation of the device 50 is the same as that of the device 10.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 another therapeutic device 80 embodying the `features of the present invention, is illustrated. The device is similar to the previous embodiments in that it is also adapted to be mounted in an elevated position on a door, such as the door 12.

The device 80 thus preferably comprises support means in the form of a pair of vertically extending, laterally spaced, angle support members or brackets 81 and 82 which are similar in construction to the bracket 52 of the device 50. Thus, each bracket 81 and 82 includes a pair of perpendicular ange sections 83 and S4, the ange sections 83 extending substantially parallel to an adjacent side, such as the `front side 18 of the door 12, when the brackets 81 and 82 are mounted thereon. The flange sections 84, which comprise support portions of the brackets 81 and 82, are perpendicular to and extend transversely away from the door 12 (FIG. 8). While the brackets 81 and 82 are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 with their flange sections 84 disposed at the inner vertical sides of the flange sections 83, the positions of the brackets S1 and 82 could be reversed.

The ange section 83 of each bracket 81 and 82 includes a mounting portion identical with that of the mounting portion 56 of the device 50 and therefore the description of this structure need not be repeated.

The device 80 also includes handle means to be grasped by a user when the device is mounted on a door 12. Such handle means comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of pairs of horizontally aligned, vertically spaced openings in the ange sections 84 or support portions of the brackets 81 and S2, and an elongated bar 90 insertable in a particular pair of the openings. Preferably, four vertically spaced pairs of horizontally aligned openings, indicated 86-89, inclusive, in FIG. 7, are provided in the ange sections 84. As in the previous embodiments, the bar 90 may be inserted in lwhichever pair of the openings 86-89 as will permit the user to hang full length from the bar.

In the forgeoing description of the therapeutic devices 10, 40, 50 and 80, the portions of the brackets which are adapted to engage the front and rear sides, 18 and 19, respectively, of the 4door 12 have been described as extending vertically, and the portions thereof which are adapted to extend over and engage the upper horizontal edge 11 of the door have been described as extending horizontally. Such angular relationship is assured only when the devices are mounted on doors of maximum thickness and may or may not prevail when the devices are mounted on doors of lesser thickness. However, even with very narrow width doors, the aforementioned angular relationships are substantially achieved and therefore the use of the terms horizontal and vertical is intended to include small angular variations from the exact horizontal or vertical orientation.

In FIGS. 9, 10, 1l and 12, another therapeutic device 100 embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated. The device 100 is also adapted to be mounted in an elevated position on a door, such as the upper horizontal edge 11 of the door 12.

'Ihe device .100 thus preferably comprises support means including a mounting member or bracket 116 which includes a rectangular plate portion 1117 (FIGS. 11 and 12) and a hook or clamp portion in the form of a iiange 119 which depends from one edge of the plate portion 117. When mounted on the door 12', the plate portion S117 extends over and engages at least a portion of the upper edge 11 of the door with the flange 119 engaging one side, such as the rear side 19 of the door. In addition, the major portion of the plate portion 117 projects beyond the opposite, or front side 18, of t-he door 12.

The support means also includes a support member or shoe 1126 in the form of a channel having a pair of spaced flanges 127 and a connecting lweb portion 128. When engaged with the bracket 116, the web portion 12S of the shoe i126 is disposed toward the front side 1S of the door with the flanges 1127 thereof extending vertically.

According to the present invention, the bracket member 116 and shoe member 126 include adjustable connecting means permitting the device 100 to be mounted on doors of different thickness, Such means preferably comprises an opening y129 (FIGS. 9 and 1-1) in the plate portion 117 and a Wedge portion 130 of the shoe member 126. The wedge portion 130 is provided by tapered longitudinal edges 136 of the lflanges 127, which are angularly inclined away from the web portion 128 for a portion of their length. Preferably, such inclination is about 15.

As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the opening l129 in the plate portion 117 is rectangular and the tapered longitudinal edges 136 of the anges 127 engage a portion of the margin of the opening 129, in this instance the outer edge, indicated at 138, of the opening. When the parts of the device 100 are engaged, the plate portion 117 of the bracket member 116 is preferably disposed at a right angle with respect to lalle edges 136. To this end, the ange 119 is bent at an acute angle of about 75 with respect to the plate portion ,117, which angle is the cornplement of the angle of inclination of the outwardly tapering edges 136 of the shoe member 126. Such angularity thus provides the desired penpendicular relationship between the edges 136 and plate portion 117 and also results in surface-to-surface contact between the ange 119 and the rear side of the door 12.

With the foregoing construction, it Will be apparent that when the device 100 is mounted on a door, such as the door 12', and the weight of a user is applied to the shoe member |126, the tapered edges l136 of the channel will coact with the edge 138 of the opening 129 in the manner of a wedge to cause the ange 119 to clamp tightly against the door 12.

In order to permit the device 19 to be mounted on doors of different thickness, the opening 129 in the plate portion 1117 is sized so that when the Wed-ge portion 13G of the shoe member 126 is fully engaged in the opening, the ange t1=19 is correctly spaced for the thinnest thickness door on which the device 100 may be mounted. Such a door is indicated in full lines in FIG. 5 and identified by the reference numeral 12.

When the device 160 is mounted on doors of greater thickness than the door 12', as for example a door 139 indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 12, the wedge portion 130 will assume a different position with respect to plate portion 117 and opening 129. Such position is determined by the thickness of the door which determines the spacing between the ange 119 and web portion 128 of the shoe member 126. Thus, the device is self-adjusting for any thickness door. A thick door will, of course, position the channel higher than a thin door. For convenience of illustration in FIG. l2, the door 139 is shown as being of somewhat lesser height than the door 12.

The shoe member 126 also includes means providing a handle to be grasped by a user. Such means comprises at Ileast one and preferably a plurality of pairs of horizontally aligned, vertically spaced openings in the flanges 127 and an elongated bar insertable in the openings. In the present instance, four vertically spaced pairs of openings are provided in the flanges 127 and indicated at 141- 144 in FIG. l2. The length of the shoe member 126, the depth of the flanges 127 and the size of the opening 129 in the bracket member 116 are such that when the device 100 is mounted on a thin door, such as the door 12', at least the upper pair of openings 144 will be disposed above the upper edge 1'1 of the door. When the device 10 is mounted on a thick door, such as the door 139, both the upper pairs of openings 143 and 144 are disposed above the upper edge 11 of the door. Thus, the construction of the device 100 permits ta-ll as well as short men to hang at substantially full length therefrom, merely by inserting the bar 140 in an appropriate pair of openings in the anges 127.

Cushioning material may be provided on the parts of the device 1110 which contact the door 12' to minimize marring. Thus, a strip of rubber 147 may be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the flange 119 and a pair of rubber strips 148 may likewise be secured to the inner surface of the Web portion 128 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 9-12.

While certain specic embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications and Variations thereof may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A therapeutic device adapted to be mounted on a door having an upper horizontal edge and vertical sides, comprising support means including an elongated, vertically extending, angle support member having mutually perpendicular, integral flange sections, one of said flange sections having a horizontally extending portion adapted to engage the upper horizontal edge of said door and a vertically extending portion depending from said horizontally extending portion and adapted to engage one side of said door, said one ange section also having another vertically extending portion adapted to engage the other side of `said door, said horizontally extending and vertically depending portions of said one ange section being formed from a partially severed portion of said one ange section, and handle means carried by said other ange section.

2. The therapeutic device of claim 1, further characterized in that said partially severed portion of said one flange section is disposed intermediate the length of said one flange section.

3. The therapeutic device of claim 2, further characterized in that said angle member is of metal, and cushioning material is applied at least to the portions of said one section adapted to engage said door to prevent marring thereof and slipping of said device when the latter is 1n use.

4. A therapeutic device adapted to be mounted on a door having an upper horizontal edge and vertical sides, comprising support means including an elongated vertically extending angle support member having mutually perpendicnlar flange sections, one of said tiange sections having a horizontally extending portion adapted to engage the upper horizontal edge of said door and a vertically extending portion depending from said horizontally extending portion and adapted to engage one side of said door, said one iiange section also having another vertically extending portion adapted to engage the other side of said door, said other flange section having an opening therein having a horizontally extending tubular member rigidly secured in said opening, and a bar mounted in said opening and providing a handle, said horizontally extending tubular member preventing tilting of said bar when said device is in use.

S. A therapeutic device adapted to be mounted on a. door having an upper horizontal edge and vertical sides, comprising support means including an elongated, vertically extending, plate-like support portion and a mounting portion, said mounting portion having a generally horizontally extending portion adapted to engage the upper horizontal edge of said door and a generally vertically extending portion depending from said horizontally extending portion and adapted to engage one side of said door, said horizontally extending portion being disposed intermediate the length of said support portion so that a portion of said support portion extends above the upper horizontal edge of said door when said device is mounted thereon, said support portion having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, and handle means mountable in a selected one of said vertically spaced openings including at least one position above the level of the upper horizontal edge of said door.

6. 'The therapeutic device of claim 5, further characterized in that a horizontally extending tubular member is rigidly mounted in each opening in said support portion, and said handle means comprises a bar insertable into a selected one of said tubular members.

7. A therapeutic device adapted to be mounted on a door having an upper horizontal edge and vertical sides, comprising support means including a mounting portion and an elongated, vertically extending support portion, said mounting portion including a horizontally extending portion adapted to engage the upper horizontal edge of said door and a depending hook portion adapted to engage one side of Said door, said horizontally extending portion being disposed intermediate the length of said support portion so that a portion of the latter extends above the upper horizontal edge of said door when said device is mounted thereon, said hook portion being transversely spaced from said support portion by an amount suicient to accommodate diierent thickness doors, said support portion having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein including at least one opening above the level of said horizontally extending portion, and handle means adapted to be grasped by a user and mountable in a selected one of said openings.

8. The therapeutic device of claim 7, further characl' terized in that the mounting and support portions of said support means comprise separate mounting and support members, and said support member is engageable with said mounting member and has said vertically spaced openings therein.

9. The therapeutic device of claim 8, further characterized in that said device includes adjustable connecting means between said mounting and support members for mounting said device on doors of different thickness.

10. The therapeutic device of claim 8, further characterized in that said support member is channel-shaped and includes a pair of vertically extending, horizontally spaced flanges and a connecting web portion, said connecting web portion being adapted to engage said other side of said door.

11. The therapeutic device of claim 10 further characterized in that said flanges taper away from said web portion toward the upper end of said channel to provide a wedge portion on said support member, and said wedge portion coacts with said mounting member to urge the latter into engagement with said one side ot' said door.

12. The therapeutic device of claim 11, further characterized in that the angle of taper of said flanges with respect to said web portion is about 15.

13. The therapeutic device of claim 10, further characterized in that a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of horizontally aligned openings are provided in the flanges of said support member, and said handle means comprises a bar mountable in a selected pair of said openings, whereby the Vertical position of said bar may be adjusted to permit users of different heights to hang substantially full length therefrom.

14. The therapeutic device of claim 8, further characterized in that said support member includes a wedge portion cooperable with said mounting member for urging the latter into engagement with said door when the weight of a user is applied to said handle.

15. The therapeutic device of claim 14, further characterized in that said mounting member includes a plate portion having an opening for receiving said support member and a depending flange comprising said depending hook portion, said wedge portion coacting with said opening in said mounting member for urging said lange into engagement with said one side of said door when the weight of a user is applied to said support member.

16. The therapeutic device of claim 7, further characterized in that said support means comprises a pair of laterally spaced support members, each of said support members including mounting and support portions, each of said support portions having a plurality of said vertically spaced openings therein, and said handle means is mountable in a selected pair of said horizontally aligned openings in said support portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,118,441 1/1964 George 272-80 1,168,361 1/1916 Wilson 272-62 1,366,155 l/1921 Bardwell 272-62 1,430,573 10/1921 Lindstrom 272-62 1,847,719 10/1931 Hirschel 248-214 2,817,523 12/1957 Lasky et al. 272-62 2,938,695 5/1960 Ciampa 248-214 2,985,417 5/1961 Thompson 248-214 3,127,114 3/1964 Shaw 248-214 3,134,592 5/1964 Sharkey 272-79 3,260,489 7/1966 Hentzi 248-304 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. DIAZ, IR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 248-251, 30()l 

